most dictionaries see illusion and delusion as synonymous
Okay, I can't stand this any longer. But first, welcome,
Joel.
In my book, if someone is experiencing an illusion, it may
eventually be proven that that belief was correct. If someone is delusional, that means that it is known that this belief is incorrect.
Perhaps perspective plays a part here. If a person is thinking or speaking of himself, he may not make the
distinction between the two, since he believes it in any case. Though there are instances where a person "knows" in some way that a certain belief is incorrect, but continues to adhere to it anyway.
Delusion is more commonly applied by persons other than the one who is having it.
Example: I come home from school with the illusion that I have done well on a test. If I find I did in fact get a good grade, then my illusion turned out to be correct.
If I come home saying I did well on the test, even though
I put wild guesses for answers, that is a delusion.
